Special Collections

Special Collections is Carnegie Mellon’s home for rare books, manuscripts, early scientific instruments and calculating machines — a dynamic research and teaching hub where the past meets innovation.

Special Collections invites students and scholars to explore the long history of computing, robotics, cryptology and information technology, from the Renaissance to the present. As one of the only university collections focused on these fields, Special Collections fills a critical gap in the cultural record. Recent gifts have supported acquisitions such as an exceptionally rare 17th-century English set of “Napier’s rods” and the first Japanese book on mechanical calculation, printed in 1684.

Your gift to the Special Collections Acquisitions Fund helps us continue to build a world-class collection that supports interdisciplinary teaching, research and public engagement. Donor support fuels transformative exhibitions, hands-on instruction and access to materials that inspire curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking across disciplines.

To learn more, contact Robin Mitchell, chief advancement officer, at robinmit@andrew.cmu.edu or 412-268-4396.